Automatic speed regulator



Aug. 25, wzaq A. C9. CARPENTER AUTOMATIC SPEED REGULATOR Filed Sept. 21.

Hus ATTOR |NVENTOR an 0. Cczgpnfn Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES ATET O ALLAN O. CARPENTER, OF COBNING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T INGERSOLL-RANLD COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC SPEED REGULATOR.

Application filed. September 21, 1923. Serial No. 663,973.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN O. CARPENTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Corning, county of Steuben, and State of New York, have invented a certain Autom'atic Speed Regulator, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to an automatic speed regulator, particularly adapted for regulating the speed of the driving engine of a compressor.

The object of the invention, is to regulate the speed of the engine which may be an internal combustion engine, in accordance with the requirements for air, and for this purpose, the regulator is subject to the discharge pressure of the compressor, which begins to take effect on the regulator at a predetermined pressure, so that the engine speed is reduced as the demand for air decreases.

The regulator preferably includes a centrifugal governor for the driving engine, and another object of the invention is to operatively connect the fluid operated regulating device with the governor in such man nor that the increase of discharge pressure tends to adjust thegovernor for operation at a lower intermediate speed.

The invention is shown in one of its preferred forms in the accompanying drawings, which is a diagrammatic side elevation of a portable combustion engine driven compressor unit, partly in section, sufficient parts being shown to illustrate the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown in connection with a portable compressor unit, in which the compressor A, mounted on the frame B, having the wheels C, is driven by any suitable combustion engine D. The invention however, is applicable to stationary as well as portable units. The air receiver E for the compressor, and gasoline tank Ffor the combustion engine, may be mounted in any suitable manner on the frame. The main driving shaft of the combustion engine D and the crank shaft G of the compressor, are coupled by any suitable coupling H.

The combustion engine is provided with a suitable centrifugal governor, mounted on the counter shaft J, suitably geared to the engine shaft K. The weighted governor arms L, in this instance, are pivoted on the spider O and are adapted to bear against the plate P, slidable on the counter shaft J, which in turn moves the lower end Q of the governor lever R outwardly about the pivotal point S, as the governor arms fly outwardly with increase of speed of the engine. The upper end of the lever B is connected by a rod T to the throttle U of the combustion engine, so that upon an increase of speed of the engine beyond a pre-determined degree, the throttle U is automatically moved towards closed position, and the speed brought back to the desired point.

Means are provided for setting the governor, where-by the speed of the engine may be limited to a pre-determined maximum, and in this instance, a compression spring V is held between the cap W on the lever B and the cap X on the end of the push rod Y, which in turn is mounted in the guide Z carried by a bracket 6 suitably connected to the frame in any suitable position. The tension of the governor spring V adjusted in a manner to be described, determines the maximum speed of the engine. In accordance with one feature of the invention, a suitable regulating device is provided, adapted to be actuated by a rise in discharge pressure, due to the decreased air demand, for reducing the speed of the engine.

In the present instance, and as a convenient form of regulating device, adapted to be mounted on the combustion engine, a cylinder a is connected to a bracket 1) to be attached to the engine, and this cylinder is connected by the pipe 0 to the air receiver E.

A plunger 9 in the cylinder a is adapted to bear against one arm of a bell crank 71, pivoted at to the bracket 6 and an adjustable stop in the form of a set screw on said bracket, limits the rocking movement of the bell crank lever h in one direction, and another set screw is limits the movement in the opposite direction. The other arm of the bell crank lever h cooperates with the outer end of the push rod Y which coopcrates with the governor spring V. Set screws 70. and is by limiting the travel of bell crank lever h, consequently limit the adjustment of governor spring V in such a manner that the adjustment of set screw is establishes the minimum speed limit, and the adjustment of set screw is, establishes the maximum speed limit. An adjusting spring 0 in a guide 19 is adapted to be compressed between the bell crank lever It and an adjustable stop 9 having a cap 1' enclosing one end of the spring 0. Spring 0 resists the action of the plunger 9. The adjustment of spring 0 determines the pressure required to actuate the plunger 9 and bell crank lever h, hence the adjustment of the spring 0 by means of the set screw 9 regulates the fluid operated device for operation at the desired air pressure.

In the ,operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed that the demand for air decreases, in which case the consequent rise of pressure in the receiver E will force the plunger 9 outwardly in the cylinder at thus rocking the bell crank 72, on its pivot j in a direction to compress the spring 0 and re lieve the tension of the governor spring V, thus permitting the centrifugal governor to actuate'the governor arm R and adjust the throttle towards closed position, to reduce the speed of the engine. The operative connections between the fluid operated device and the governor are so arranged and connected that the increase of discharge pressure tends to adjust the governor for operation at a lower intermediate speed.

I claim:

1. In a compressor unit, the combination of a compressor and an internal combustion engine, a centrifugal governor connected to operate the throttle of said engine and a fluid operated regulating device adapted to be actuated by a rise in discharge pressure, due to a decreased air demand, whereby the speed of the engine is reduced, a device for setting the governor whereby the speed of the engine may be limitd to a predetermined maximum and a connection between said fluid operated device and the said governor setting device, whereby the increase of pressure tends to adjust the governor for operation at a lower intermediate speed.

2. In a compressor unit, the combination of a compressor and an internal combustion engine, a centrifugal governor connected to operate the throttle of said engine, means for setting the governor for maximum speed, a fluid operated regulating device adapted to be actuated by a rise in discharge pressure, due to a decreased air demand, whereby the speed of the engine is reduced, adjustable maximum and minimum speed limit devices for said regulating device and a connection between said fluid operated device and the said governor setting device, whereby the increase of pressure tends to adjust the governor for operation at a lower intermediate speed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

ALLAN O. CARPENTER. 

